The Infant Bacchus Entrusted to the Nymphs of Nysa The Death of Echo and Narcissus
Nicolas Poussin·1657
Historical Context
The Infant Bacchus Entrusted to the Nymphs and the Death of Echo and Narcissus from 1657 at Harvard is a late masterwork combining two mythological narratives. Poussin's late landscapes achieve profound philosophical meaning through classical composition. Poussin's mythological subjects drew on deep reading of ancient texts — Ovid, Virgil, and Philostratus — and rigorous study of antique sculpture and Titian's poesie. His approach transformed mythology from decoration into moral and philosoph...
Technical Analysis
The complex composition integrates two narratives within a single landscape. Poussin's late palette and measured handling create a scene of philosophical depth.
